Computing-machine.



N. J. KLOHN & H. J. HEDTKE.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man Aue.25.1913.

1,179,934. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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N. l. KLOHN & H. I. HEDTKE.

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APPLICATION FILED AuG.25. 1913.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANDURAPN C0.. WASHINGTON. D.

N. l. KLOHN da H. l. HEDTKE.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mio Auc.2s. |913.

1, 1 79,934. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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N. l. KLOHN & H. 1. HEDTKE.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.25. 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS J. KLOHN, 0F ST. PAUL, AND HERMAN J. HEDTKE, OF FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO KLOHN ADDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Application filed August 25, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, NICHOLAS J. KLOHN and HERMAN J. HEDTKE, citizens of the United StatesJ residing, respectively, at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, and at Fort Snelling, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Computing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is the production of a computing machine which is simple and positive in action, permitting it to be constructed of small dimensions. Coupled with these features of improvement we provide a mechanism in which the chances for mistakes and the resistance to the touch on the keys of the key board and other parts of the operating mechanism are reduced to a minimum. IVe also obviate the use of a locking device and of a long and uneven stroke for the various keys of the key board` the stroke in our improved machine being always the same for all of the keys and consequently producing ease and quickness of operation.

Our invention also provides a minimum number of keys. and a greaterrange of operation in calculating.` Its construction permits of its being contined to narrow dimensions enabling its use for ,purposes Where a wide machine is not convenient. The accumulators and gate System are also constructed. so that there is no likelihood of the parts carrying over if the keys are operated rapidly. Should a mistake be made while adding it may be easily and quickly corrected. The mechanical construction also avoids substantially all lost motion and resulting inaccuracy and wasted energy.

As distinguished from prior devices, our invention is designed to be less liable to get out of order. the operation of the adding machine is simplified. and the machine is adapted to permit greater speed and accuracy while the parts are encompassed within a small space.

Our invention also resides in the production of a novel gate system for defining the actuation of the number mechanism, said gate system being simple in construction and partlv automatic in operation whereb\1 a mechanism is Produced of extremely small dimensions requiring a light short stroke of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

serial No. 786,458.

the keys for setting and also a simple device for clearing and resetting by a single movement into normal position. The carrying device employed is also particularly novel, it being adapted to carry over either in adding or subtracting and be susceptible of simple construction and care in operation and making the operation more positive in action. The gate system and carrying device also shortens the stroke of the key levers and enables the construction to be confined to small dimensions.

To these ends our invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts which are described in the following specication and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of our invention; Fig. Q is a plan; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line A-A of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a section on the line B-B of Fig. 3,. when the parts are in normal position: Fig. 5 is a section on line B -B of Fig. 3 when the parts are in partlv forward position: Fig 6 is a sectional detail taken on the line FF of Fig. 3. the parts being moved partly forward: Fig. 7 is a side elcvation taken on the line C-C of Fig. 3, the wall of the casing being removed but showing the operating lever: Fig. 8 is a plan in section of a detail showing the ooerating lever: Fiat 9 is a detail in section taken on the line D-D. Fig. 4: Fig. 1() is a section taken on the line E-E. Fig 4: Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line K-K of Fig.3, part of the structure relating to the kev board being broken away: Fig. 12 is a plan with part of the casing broken awav; Fig. 13 is a section on line G-G of Fiq. 3, showing the carriage in its normal position; Fig. 14 is a detail partly in section taken on line G-G of Fig. 3. showing the carriage in advanced position and setting the six-gate in the unit column; Fig. 15 is a detail partly in section taken on line (lr-G of Fig. 3 showing` the carriage returned leaving one of the gates set; Fig. 16 is a detail partly in section taken on line G-G of Fig. 3 showing the carriage advanced closing the zero gate in the unit column and advancing the six-gate to the tens column; Fig. 17 is a detail partly in section taken on line G--G of Fig. 3 showing the carriage returned to normal position after setting the gates as illustrated in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a detail partly in section taken on line (1l- G of Fig. 3 showing the carriage advanced placing the six in the hundredth column, zero in the tens column and nine in the unit column; Fig. 19 is a detail partly in section taken on the line GG of Fig. 3 showing the carriage returned to normal position after setting the gates as illustrated in Fig. 18; Fig. Q0 is a detail partly in section taken on the line I-I Fig. 3, showing the carriage in advanced position and advancing the carriage and clearing plate to clear all of the gates; Fig. 21 is a detail partly in section taken partly on line G- G, partly on line H-H, and partly on line I-I of Fig. 3 showing the carriage in normal position and all gates clear as in Fig. 13; Fig 22 is a detail in section taken on line J-J of Fig. 13, showing the gates and associated parts enlarged; Fig. 23 is a bottom plan view of part of the carriage; Fig. 24 is a perspective View of one of the shoes. and Fig. is a section on line (lr-G of Fig. 3, part of the carriage being broken away.

In the drawings M indicates the key board; (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5). N the gate system, O the accumulating and carrylng mechanism, F the operating mechanism, (see Fig. 7); R the clearing mechanism, which sets the number wheels to zero; Q, the correcting mechanism which cooperates with the clearing mechanism; (see Figs't and 11), and S the subtracting mechanism of our improved calculator, all of said parts being assembled in a suitable frame such as the casing T.

Key board mecham'8m.-Tl1e key board is provided with keys numbered 0 to 9, (see Figs. 1, 2, le; 5 and 12), all of said keys being similar in construction and each key consisting of a vertical rod 10 sliding vertically through guide openings in the top 11. In the lower portion of the casing and arranged parallel in substantially a single plane are journaled a plurahty of rocker shafts 12; one shaft being provided for each kev and connected thereto by means of a rocker arm 13, whereby the depression of a key is adapted to turn the corresponding shaft through a short are about its axis. A retractile spring 111 connected to the free end of the rocker arm 13 and to the top 11 of the key board is adapted to return the rocker shaft 12 to normal position after its key has been depressed and released. The rocker shafts extending backwardly the full length of the casing are provided with one actuating arm 15, for each shaft and selectively positioned thereon, so as to cooperate with a set of ten reciprocable transverse shafts 1G arranged immediately above the rocker shafts in a single horizontal plane and slidably supported in longitudinal bearings 17 and 18 (see Figs. 3, -1-, 5 and 22) secured on either side of the lower part 0f the casing T. Fach actuating arm has a bifurcated free end; the bifurcations of which are adapted to straddle one of the transverse shafts 1G and impinge against collars 19 selectively positioned on the transverse shafts by set screws 20 so that when a key of the key board is depressed the swinging motion of a longitudinal shaft is adapted through the engagement of the actuating arm 15 thereon with the collar 19 to slide transverse shafts 1G a short distance as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 10. Immediately above the set' of transverse shafts 16 a horizontal partition 21 (see Fig.

forming part of the casing has a eentrally disposed longitudinal opening 22 (see Fig. 9). Arranged on the upper surface of the partition Q1 are two longitudinal parallel guides Q3 positioned on either side 0f the opening 22 and through these guides a set of ten pull rods 2l are adapted to reciprocate, said pull rods being arranged in corresponding order immediately above the reciprocating rods 1G, (see Fig. 10) each of said pull rods being coupled to a corresponding reciprocating rod by means of a rigid connection 25 passing vertically through the opening 22, there being ten pull rods. The free ends of these pull rods have sliding bearings through the casing T. Each of the pull rods is provided with a stop collar 26, (see Fig. 9) which limits the motion of the rod, on which it is mounted, in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. 9, and also serves as an engagement with the gate mechanism to be hereinafter described. All except one of the pull rods is illustrated with a coupling element Q7 (see Fig. 9) for communicating motion from the key board to said gate mechanism. These parts substantially constitute the key board mechanism but we desire to have it understood that any suitable key board mechanism may be employed for accomplishing the result attained by our invention within the scope of the claims following this specification.

Gate SI1/stcm.-Located a suitable distance above the horizontal partition Q1 is a frame 30 which carries the gates U, said gate frame being provided with horizontal strips 31 and a channel plate 3Q, the set of strips 31 and channel plate being vertically spaced apart and mounted upon the vertical front and back plates 33 and 31 which are fastened to the casing such as by screws 35. The strips and channel plate are secured to the front and back plates by vertical screws 3G passing threu gh said parts and into transverse spacing blocks 37; said spacing blocks forming the sides of channels 38 extending horizontally across the machine. The lower sides of the channels 38 are formed by guides 39 which are secured to the spacing mirages@ blocks such as by screws 40. A suitable carriage frame such as 41 (see Fig. 4) has its side edges tted into the channels 33 and is adapted to slide transversely below the gate frame and above the set of pull rods 24 of the key board mechanism. The strips 31 (see Figs. 4 and 13) are longitudinally spaced a short distance apart to provide longitudinal passages between them through which each of the accumulating levers 42 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is adapted to describe an arc, said levers being journaled upon a common shaft 43 forming a pivot above the gates. There is an accumulating or count ing wheel for every column of figures to be added by the machine and a corresponding accumulating lever for every counting wheel, also a corresponding passage between the strips and a set of gates on one of the strips entering the passage between the strips with which a lever is adapted to cooperate. There are gates provided on each strip which are longitudinally spaced apart, and adapted to be set so as to obstruct the lever in its passage. The strip 31 (see Fig. 13) has a first Zero gate 4G positioned in alinement with the first row of gates on the intermediate strips and the strip 31 is provided with eight gates in alinement with all of the remaining gates on the other strips. The transverse rows of gates are arranged to indicate from Zero to eight as illustrated in Fig. 13, the zero row in other words being offset to the right and the remaining gates remaining in longitudinal alinement as indicated.

Each of the gates consists of a vertical shaft 47 (see Fig. 22) passing vertically through and freely pivoted in the channel plate 32 and one of the strips 31, a screw 43 holding said shaft at its upper end and a head 49 holding it at its lower end. Between the strip and channel plate a sleeve 50 is secured by a set screw 51, so that the shaft 47 can be removed readily from the strip and channel plate. The lower head 49 is formed with a guide shoe which cooperates and is constructed in a manner to be hereinafter described. The side of the sleeve 50 is formed with a gate arm 46, which normally stands out of the path of its corresponding accumulating lever 42, (see Fig. 13) but adapted to be swung across one of the column passages 54 between the strips 31 and thus define or limit the travel of the accumulating lever. The first Zero gate 4G on the first strip 31 (see Fig. 13) controls the first column by opening the column passage between the strips or closing it while the rows of gates control the remaining columns increasing from the right in the Zero column, step by step to the 8 column one row of gates, from O to 8 on a strip being employed for each column (see Fig. 13). Therefore there are as many rows of gates and strips as there are columns to be added within the capacity of the machine. For clearness the column passages are marked from 1 to 8 indicating units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc., according to the capacity of the machine, it being obvious that as many sets of gates may be employed as desired. Normally the gate arms 46 in the Zero row of all of the columns stand across the passages between the strips and face in substantially the opposite direction to the gate'arms on the remaining gates as illustrated in Fig. 13, in which ligure the gate arms are all set in normal position. The transverse row of gates representing the digit 9 it will be noted is not required, a stop 55 (see Fig. 4) comion to all of the columns being secured rigidly to the stationary front plate and against which the accumulator arms 42 (sec Fig. 4) strike at the limit of their forward movement. The gate arms in each column and on each strip are arranged in an arc described from the pivot point 43 of the accumulator levers and the gates are evenly spaced apart, therefore even distances are produced between the gates which the accumulating arms are adapted to be stepped.

The channel plate 32 (see Fig. 13) is formed with a plurality ofchannels 60, which extend transversely of the machine, there being one channel for each longitudinal row of gates in which the guide shoes 52 depend between its side walls, thus there is a transverse channel for each transverse row of Zero gates, an adjacent channel for each row of gates for the digit 1, another channel for the digit 2 and so on until there is a channel for every row fromA Zero to eight. The guide shoe of each gate (see Figs 13 and 22) has its toe formed by con verging sides, 61 and 62 (see Fig. 24) and a heel portion (53 connecting with said sides (see Fig. 22), leaving a space on either' side of the shoe when the shaft of the shoe is turned and one of the sides G1 or 62 moved against the corresponding side of the channel in the channel plate in which the shoe is located. Thus there is space for an ob- `ject such as one of the pins 4 to find its way freely lengthwise of the channel for a short distance along either side of the shoe as will be hereinafter described.

The carriage 41 consists of a main body, the projecting sides of which work freely in the guide grooves 38 formed by the spacing blocks 37 and guide blocks and between antifriction bearings of usual form whereby the carriage is adapted to reciprocate freely transversely of the machine. The draw springs 71 see Fig. 13) secured to the projecting sides 70 (see Fig. 4) of the carriage and to the side of the guide 3.() serve to return the carriage into normal position against the hub 72 of the lever 223 (see Fig. 13) which performs the function of a stop. This carriage supports a group of guide arms 74 (see Figs. 13 and 22) which are arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows and correspond in position and number with the guide shoes 52 (see Fig. 13). Each of the guide arms is mounted upon a shaft 75 (see Fig. 22) passing vertically through the bed of the carriage and revolubly mounted therein. On the outer end of each of the arms 74 there is an upwardly projecting pin 64 heretofore referred to, which is adapted to play freely between the guide shoes in the channels of the channel plate, the normal position of these pins being illustrated in Figs. 13 and 22. The shaft 75 (see Figs 13 and 22) of each of the guide arms corresponding with the gate 4G and all of the gates controlling the first column passage has a spring 7G (see Fig. 22) attached by one end to the body of the carriage 41 and by its other end to a radiating hook 77 (see Fig. 23) rigidly secured on the shaft, said spring being adapted to return the guide arm to which it is attached automatically into normal or idle position as indicated in Figs. 13 and 23.

Each of the shafts of the remaining guide arms has an expansion spring 78 (see Fig. 22) interposed between a washer 79 on its lower end and the lower side of the body of the carriage, thus resisting the free movement of the shaft but permitting it to turn. The means of communciating motion between the key board mechanism and the gate mechanism is by vertical pins 80 mounted on all of the coupling elements 27 illustrated in Fig. 9 and projecting up wardly'so as to engage the hooks 77 (see Figs. 13 to 23) and turn the guide arms 74 when one of the keys of the key board is depressed. This movement turns the guide arm corresponding with the key which is depressed and sets one of the pins G4 (see Fig. 14) in position to engage a shoe. All of the pin carrying arms 74 stand normally in one direction as illustrated in Figs. 13 to 21, excepting the arm 74 which is the first arm in the zero row and which sets in opposite direction or with its pin 64 on the opposite side of the zero channel in the channel plate.

T he reason for placing only one shoe and one guide arm adjacent the first column passage will be evident from the following?- Each longitudinal row of guide shoes (see Figs. 13 and 14) is placed with the axis of each slice on a longitudinal center line through the channel in which the row of guide shoes is positioned. Each shoe is placed with its toe portion radiating far beyond its axis and its heel portion close to its axis. The sides of the toe portion being shaped so that in one position one side of the toe is adapted to rest against one side of the channel leaving a clear passage adjacent the other side through which a guide pin such as 64 is free to pass and guide along the channel when the carriage is shifted forward by the depression of one of the digit keys on the key board. The heel portion of the shoe is also shaped so that a guide pin when moved by the carriage is adapted to engage with the same on one side of the channel and turn the shoe with its toe against the opposite side when the carriage is moved forward as described. 1t will be noted that all of the guide shoes and their t`oe portions point in the same general direction, the trending of the toe portions permitting the automatic operation of the guide shoes as described by means of the guide pins which are moved by the carriage. The springs 76 on the shafts 75 (sec Fig. 22) tend to hold the guide arms with their pins 64 in the first column excepting the pin of the zero guide arm 74', on the same sides of the channels normally as all of the remaining pins and guide arms, a spring on the shaft which bears the guide arm 74 tending to hold the Zero pin 64 on the opposite side of its channel, as illustrated in Figs. 13 to 22. The positioning of the pin 64 on the opposite side of the channel to the remainder of the pins 64 when in normal position or when any one or more of the keys has been struck is so as to always open the Zero gate in the first column when any of the keys except the Zero key on the key board is depressed, thus opening the first column to admit one of the accumulating arms. AIt is evident however that the operation of the zero pull rod 24 (see Fig. 9) will engage the hook 77 (see Figs. 22 and 23) on the arm 74 and swing the pin 64 to the opposite side of the channel and thus returning the shoe to normal position or prevent the swinging of the shoe 52 (see Fig. 14) out of its normal position and leaving the first column passage closed. The stroke of the carriage is equal to or slightly in excess of the distance laterally between any two of the guide pins in a lateral row and the carriage operates fully to completely set the gates during a portion of the stroke of a key. The carriage is not subject to a step by step movement as in prior devices but is reciprocated forwardly and backwardly into normal position every time a key is struck.

Should it be desired to set the gates to register the number 609 the operation will be as follows When the digit key 6 (see Fig. 2) is depressed the corresponding rocker shaft 12 (see Fig. 10) operates one of the pull rods 24 (see Fig. 9) carrying the coupling element which engages the hook 77 in the six-row as illustrated in Figs. 13 to 15, of the first column, swinging the arm 85 (see Figs. 13 to 15) with its pin 86 to the opposite side of the channel in position to engage the heel of the Shoe 87 (see Figs. 

